BG State of the City address forecasts busy year ahead

By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN

BG Independent News

 

Bowling Green saw a record number of 32 ribbon cuttings for new businesses last year, and more ribbons and orange construction barrels are forecasted for this year.

“The ceremonial scissors are already working overtime since the start of the new year,” Mayor Dick Edwards said during the State of the City address hosted by the Bowling Green Chamber of Commerce Tuesday morning at the Wood County District Public Library.

“We are not ‘Boring’ Green,” Edwards said as he listed off last year’s accomplishments and this year’s plans. The financial health of the city is “rock solid good,” with the community earning a healthy bond rating last year. City Council addressed the shortfall in the city’s trash pickup program last year, by adopting a fee in line with other cities in the region, the mayor said.

Edwards said he believes that the hardships caused by cuts in Local Government Funds from the state will not continue. “I now feel confident that the next governor of Ohio will not be indifferent to the continuing challenges before most political subdivisions,” he said.

Unlike other communities, Bowling Green has no shortage of citizens willing to get involved in the operations of their city – either by helping to update the city charter, serving on city boards and commissions, or donating to the new Wooster Green gathering place, the mayor said.

“Bowling Green is distinctively a city marked by an involved citizenry, a city with a lot of residents who feel passionate about issues,” Edwards said.

“I cannot imagine being mayor of a city where the citizenry is passive, non-involved and not caring,” he said.

The city received accolades last year by being selected by Ohio Magazine as one of “Ohio’s Best Hometowns.” The municipal utilities department was ranked number 7 nationally on the solar list by Smart Electric Power Alliance.

And on June 1, at 4 p.m., the city will dedicate the new gazebo and launch the public fundraising campaign for the Wooster Green.

But challenges are on the way. The Community Action Plan calls for neighborhood planning. There will be enhancements to the East Wooster corridor with BGSU, construction of the roundabouts and new overpass at the I-75 entry to the city, and repaving projects in the downtown area.

“Batten down the hatches and get ready for more barrels,” the mayor said.

City Council President Mike Aspacher built on the mayor’s comments about community volunteers. He listed the roles many citizens play in city government – from the utilities board and human relations commission, to the tree commission and bicycle safety board.

“These volunteers work diligently for all of us,” Aspacher said.

Council has a full agenda for the year, he explained. The city charter review will require changes to be put before voters. And the Community Action Plan recommendations call for zoning code changes, creation of micro-grants and economic development financing options, plus work on a historic preservation ordinance.

Aspacher encouraged those in the audience to get involved.

“Ask yourself what you may be doing,” he said. Some people sit back and complain, “or are you rolling up your sleeves and staying involved?”

Municipal Court Judge Mark Reddin talked about the challenges of the court that serves 19 of the 25 municipalities in Wood County.

The judge talked about his efforts to give students a way to perform community service to keep non-serious crimes off their records. And he talked about the court’s work to slow the opioid epidemic.

“It is an epidemic everywhere,” Reddin said. “We continue to see people dying.”

However, the municipal court has created a program that gets treatment to addicts faster and offers them Vivitrol shots, which are the next best thing to a “silver bullet” for opiate addiction, the judge said.

“I’ve always thought, if we could save a life, it’s a good deal,” Reddin said.

Municipal Administrator Lori Tretter recognized the work of the city’s 270 employees, who do everything from supply water, to clean streets, to respond to fire and police calls.

The city’s budget is strong, with an income tax revenue increase of 3 percent expected this year. The city’s revolving loan fund is celebrating its 30^th anniversary, having handed out $8.4 million on business loans. BG Transit provided more than 31,000 rides last year. The water plant supplied 1.56 billion gallons of drinking water, while the wastewater plant treated 2.4 billion gallons of wastewater and removed 35 tons of phosphorus. The city’s electric system was recognized for its reliability.

The city pool saw 40,224 visits last year, and the community center had 126,695 visits.

The police and fire divisions are working together on a central dispatching center. The fire division had 3,011 calls last year, while the police had 22,000.

The city’s garbage pickups increased in tonnage, while the recyclables decreased – giving the city’s new sustainability coordinator an issue to work on, Tretter said.

Tretter also mentioned the road construction expected in the city this year, which is bound to create headaches.

“I ask you to consider that orange barrels represent improvements to our community,” she said. “Our community will certainly benefit.”

Following is some further information about city services presented at the State of the City address:

Grants Administration:

• BG Transit provided more than 31,000 trips in 2017.
• 12 housing repairs provided to lower-income households.
• Two families assisted in home purchases through the Direct Homeownership Assistance program.

Fire Division:

• More than 3,000 emergency calls, which included more than 2,000 calls for medical service.
• Bill Moorman promoted to fire chief.
• Community Risk Reduction Program – 1,400 inspections conducted.

Municipal Court:

• Jurisdiction includes 462 square miles, and 19 of 25 Wood County municipalities with population of 77,771.
• Caseload in 2017 was 14,907, which is a 16 percent increase from 2016.
• 1,576 civil cases were filed.
• Probation Department, Alcohol Diversion Program: 168, the lowest amount since 1996, 80 percent success rate (less than 5 percent of participants re-offend).
• Restitution: 105 cases monitored during 2017, with more than $40,000 collected and disbursed to victims.
• Drug Screening: 108 participants, which is the lowest amount since before 2008.
• Opioid treatment using Vivitrol is a drug that blocks the receptors in the brain that are affected by opioids such as heroin.
• 16 inmates received the shot, 10 remained compliant, and three were non-compliant.

Wastewater Treatment Plant:

• Treated 2.4 billion gallons of wastewater.
• Removed 35 tons of phosphorus from the wastewater before discharging into Poe ditch.
• Began $590,000 odor control project.
• Began $4.9 million of headworks upgrades.

Community Oriented Policing:

• DARE
• Safety Town
• High School Middle School programs
• Ice Cream with a Cop
• Not In Our Town
• Human Relations Commission
• International Student Outreach
• Black Swamp Arts Festival

Grants Administration:

• The Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) marked its 30th year.
• Since 1987, more than $8.4 million in business loans have been issued.
• Helping create/retain countless jobs.
• Five local businesses received RLF loans for business start-up/enhancement in 2017.

Economic Development:

• More than $56 million in business investments.
• Nearly 30 ribbon cuttings.
• Wood Bridge Business Park expanded by nearly 100 acres.
• Penta purchased two acres in Bellard Business Park for a 7,000 square foot school-to-work training center.

Water Treatment Plant:

• Treated 1.56 billion gallons of drinking water.
• Constructed new reservoir pump station to feed raw water to the membrane treatment system.
• Added the City of Waterville as a wholesale water customer.

Arborist:

• In 2017, 165 trees were planted and 1,500 trees were pruned.
• BG has over 7,600 trees in the right-of-way providing $630,000 in environmental benefits.
• Arbor Day Foundation gave BG its 38th Tree City USA Award, and 24th Growth Award (most in Ohio).

Parks and Recreation:

• 18,591 total participants in programs.
• 97,242 daily visits to the Community Center.
• 65 programs and events.
• 8,559 fitness participants.
• 1,275 hot dogs sold at City Park.

Electric Division:

• Largest solar field in Ohio – 20 megawatts on 165 acres.
• Added new underground electrical feed for Ohio Logistic in Wood Bridge Business Park.
• Finished electrical portion of Plat 7 of Stone Ridge Country Club.
• Implemented a Fiber Management Program.

Planning Department:

• Community Action Plan approved.
• 2017 Permits by the numbers: New home construction, 34; commercial, 66; industrial, 11.
• Code Enforcement: 1,684 cases, 715 warnings issued, 150 citations.
• 277 new resident newsletters mailed.